A resurgent Polish Dollar continued his winning ways with a four-length victory over Newfound Gold in the $18,000 allowance feature for 3-year-olds and up Saturday at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by William Antongeorgi, Polish Dollar ran 6-½ furlongs in 1:14.27 on a fast track and paid $4.40, $2.80 and $2.60. Robert Meeking is the trainer for owner Sharon Radke of Port Angeles.
A 6-year-old Washington-bred gelding by Polish Gift, Polish Dollar has won three-of-four starts at the meeting while going from a $5,000 claiming race to a victory in the allowance ranks. At this time last year, Polish Dollar was in the midst of a three-race losing streak in which he finished fourth, fifth and fourth for claiming prices of $3,500, $5,000 and $5,000.
Saturday, Polish Dollar benefited from a glorious trip as Cat On Base and Marvin’s magic dueled through suicidal fractions of :21.67 and :43.33. The winner reeled in the leaders on the turn, took the lead into the stretch and drew off to win convincingly.
Polish Dollar has a career record of 9-2-3 in 24 starts*all at Emerald Downs*and earnings of $48,081.
Newfound Gold, ridden by Leslie Mawing, finished second and paid $4.20 and $2.60 for place and show. It was three lengths back to Marvin’s Magic, ridden by Juan Gutierrez, and a $3 show payoff.
Amazing Legacy finished fourth and Cat On Base, bidding for his fourth win of the meet, tired from his early efforts and finished last.
Polish Dollar and Cat On Base were co-favored at odds of 6-to-5, but Polish Dollar technically was favored by the slimmest of margins, with $4,796 wagered to win compared to $4,794 for Cat On Base.
WEST SEATTLE BOY RETIREMENT CEREMONY
Emerald Downs saluted the track’s all-time wins leader as West Seattle Boy was honored in the Winner’s Circle following the sixth race, which was titled “The West Seattle Boy Classic Purse.” A 21-time winner at Emerald Downs, West Seattle Boy was a mainstay for over a decade and captured the fans’ fancy with his big late closing kicks.
Joining West Seattle Boy in the winner’s circle were jockey Gallyn Mitchell, trainer Rigoberto Velasquez and owners Lisa Baze and Jerry Carmody.
A Washington-bred by Majesterian, West Seattle Boy has begun a new career as a pony horse for the Velasquez stable.
Mitchell rode West Seattle Boy from the paddock to the Winner’s Circle as a video was played showing all 21 of the gelding’s victories at Emerald Downs.
“He’s a superstar, he made us all look gold,” said Mitchell, Emerald Downs’ all-time leading rider and jockey for five of West Seattle Boy’s wins.
“I’m so proud he was my horse,” said Baze, co-owner of West Seattle Boy for nearly the gelding’s entire amazing career.
NOTES: Leslie Mawing book-ended the card with victories on Cardinals Gold ($4.40) in the first and Mufaajy ($21) in the last*William Antongeorgi also rode two winners on the nine-race program*Mawing, Antongeorgi and apprentice Eliska Kubinova are all-tied for second with 36 wins apiece*Jockey Leonel Camacho-Flores was fined $500 for causing interference while riding Blue Button in the second race Sunday, June 24*Majorca Gold ($7.80) posted his third win in four starts with a 6-½-length romp in the opener for Mawing and trainer Frank Lucarelli. Lucarelli has won with nine of his last 11 starters and leads Tim McCanna 24-21 in the trainers standings*McCanna saddled two winners Saturday, Dance Chief ($6.40) in the fourth and This Lad Is Gold ($22.40) in the sixth race*Majesterian, the sire of West Seattle Boy, had a win Saturday as Nina Win (by Majesterian-Win the Money) prevailed in the seventh race under Gallyn Mitchell*Live racing continues Sunday at 2:15 p.m. featuring a stakes doubleheader for 2-year-olds, the $25,000 NWSS Son of Briartic Stakes for fillies and $25,000 NWSS Slewdledo Stakes for colts & geldings. There is a $4,013 carryover in the $0.50 Pick 5, which begins on race six at 4:51 p.m.
